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KEVIN RUDD has condemned the attacks in Mumbai as acts of
absolute cowardice and offered to assist Indian authorities with
the investigation.

The Prime Minister said the attacks were a reminder the threat
of terrorism had not subsided, and warned that Australian casualty
numbers could rise.

"The Australian Government unreservedly condemns the atrocious
attacks on innocent people in Mumbai, whoever has carried out those
attacks," he told Parliament.

"This cowardly attack on India's stability, peace and democracy
reminds us all that international terrorism is far from defeated
and that we must all maintain our vigilance."

Following the Prime Minister's warnings, the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of reports of two
Australians killed. "We are seeking to confirm the accuracy of
those reports," a spokesman said.

Hospitals in India said one of those Australians was a
49-year-old man, Brett Gilbert Taylor.

Mr Rudd said the Government's sympathies and condolences went
out to all the victims and their families.

"The Government is seeking to confirm as a matter of urgency the
safety and welfare of Australians who may be affected," he said.
"We have 317 Australians registered with us as being in Mumbai.
There are likely to be more than that. Our consular staff are
attempting to contact all the Australians who are registered."

"This is an assault on all of us who cherish the values of free
society," he told Parliament.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is warning Australians to
avoid travelling to Mumbai.

Australia is offering India assistance with counter-terrorism
and forensic investigation through the Australian Federal Police
plus any other relevant assistance.

"We stand ready to assist India in any way it needs," Mr Rudd
said. He and other ministers had just attended a meeting of the
national security committee of the cabinet. Little was known about
the Deccan Mujahedeen, the group claiming responsibility for the
attacks, Mr Rudd said. "But whichever group has perpetrated this
attack, they are cowards, absolute cowards and murderers."

Mr Rudd said Qantas had confirmed its flight to Mumbai on Friday
and the airline had indicated it stood ready to help evacuate
Australians from India.

The peak national Muslim body, the Australian Federation of
Islamic Councils, condemned the attacks as "outrageous". The
federation's president, Ikebal Adam Patel, said Islam did not
sanction terrorism and there could be "no justification whatsoever"
for the attacks.

An expert in Indian politics and modern history, Robin Jeffrey,
director of the Australian National University's research school of
Pacific and Asian studies, said there was likely to be a "whole
mixture of motives".

The taking of hostages and the choice of locations, including
two of Mumbai's most famous buildings - the main railway station
and the iconic Taj hotel - suggested the perpetrators were "going
for the media [coverage]".

He said there was likely to be an involvement by the underworld,
whose war with police in Mumbai is notorious.

"I would be pretty confident there would be an underworld
dimension in this," he said.